Although the Cook County News-Herald knows that
the majority of sportsmen and women are law-abiding
folks, there are a few who run afoul of the Minnesota
Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Conservation
Officers. Periodically, the DNR provides a report of some
of the miscreants the Conservation Officers (CO) have
encountered. The News-Herald shares these stories as a
reminder to all to be safe and to follow the rules!
CO Thomas Wahlstrom (Tofte)
spent time at Camp Ripley armoring shot guns and preparing for the upcoming use of force training. The officer worked a snowmobile detail along the North Shore in Lake and Cook counties. Several snowmobilers were cited for excessive speed and no state trail sticker. The officer reminds snowmobilers that the trails were not built for high speeds. The snowpack is quickly decreasing with the warm temperatures over the weekend and the trail quality is deteriorating. Many snowmobilers were out trying to make the most of what was left. Wahlstrom checked anglers who were enjoying the spring conditions and as a bonus a couple of fish in the bag.
CO Dan Thomasen (Two Harbors)
reports that panfish have become the focus of inland anglers and getting around on the lakes is easier as the snow shrinks. Conversely, the getting around for snowmobiles is getting tougher as the snow shrinks. The North Shore Trail is suffering from many bare corners and hillsides. The best of the riding is probably over with temps in the mid-40s projected for the week.
CO Darin Fagerman (Grand Marais)
checked snowmobile and cross country ski passes. He checked lakes in the BWCA and designated lakes. Trout fishing remains slow in the smaller lakes.
CO Rhonda Keniston (Long Prairie)
investigated a litter complaint that led to enforcement action. When asked why he dumped fish remains in a local ditch, the culprit said he “thought he was far enough out in the country.” He was advised that littering applies everywhere, including the country!
CO Mike Hruza (Bemidji)
received a report of an injured bear. Upon arrival at the scene, the officer observed a bear sitting in the road ditch. There were no visible signs of injury so the officer watched the bear for a while. As the sun went down the bear entered a nearby culvert. It’s believed the culvert was the bear’s winter home and the bear just came out to enjoy a warm sunny day.
CO Shane Osborne (Evansville)
checked area lakes for fish house removal and litter clean up. Law compliance was very good. One fish house floor, covered by ice, was left behind, and lots of garbage left on the ice. The top of the house had been cut off and removed. Good thing the officer marked and recorded the house earlier. The owner will be contacted.
CO Lloyd Steen (Ray/Kabetogama)
encountered an angler in a group of ice fishermen with snowmobiles who attempted to conceal his 2007 registration decal by covering it with a coat dangling from his handlebars. The officer explained to the offender that 30 years of checking snowmobilers had adequately prepared him for those feeble attempts at defrauding the state.
CO Jeff Koehn (Grand Rapids)
followed up on a case of wanton waste of game fish that was made against a trapper who attempted to hide two northern pike after the game season had closed. Koehn’s dog located the hidden fish buried in the snow under a balsam tree. The dog eagerly “fetched” them back to the CO and the poacher. Surprise was shared by all.
CO Alex Gutierrez (Forest Lake)
investigated an over limit of squirrels from a photo posted on the Internet. The investigation revealed the young man had no small game license and was trying to show off on the Internet by stating the squirrels had all been shot in one day, which they had not been. Gutierrez informed the young man of the rules and issued the proper paperwork.
Leave a Reply